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Symptoms

Parathyroid disease can present with many symptoms across multiple organ systems. Some of the most common symptoms of primary hyperparathyroidism are non-specific symptoms such as fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and insomnia.

Do I need surgery if I don't have symptoms? I am a 65 year old woman who was recently diagnosed with primary hyperparathyroidism. My calcium and PTH levels are both high. I have osteoporosis, but have not had any fractures, and otherwise I am very healthy. I don't have any of the symptoms that other people report. If I feel pretty good overall, do I really need the operation?

This is a great question. It's odd to hear that you might need an operation for something that isn't really bothering you. In cases of clear primary hyperparathyroidism, I do usually end up recommending surgery. We know that the disease does not go away on its own. And we know that the symptoms and the complications from parathyroid disease get worse with time. It is actually pretty common for ...

Symptoms Operation

Is surgery going to help my symptoms? I am exhausted, and just don't feel like myself any more. I have had high calcium levels for the last four years. My doctor recently diagnosed primary hyperparathyroidism but said that I don't need surgery. He doesn't have an explanation for why I feel so bad. My doctor does not think these symptoms are related to the parathyroid, or that parathyroid surgery will help.

Fatigue is the most common symptom reported in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. It is very likely that your parathyroid condition is a major cause of why you are feeling exhausted. It is also common for patients to state that "I'm no myself any more." Fortunately, these symptoms improve once the parathyroid disease is treated (once the diseased parathyroid gland is removed). Based on ...

Symptoms Operation Postop expectations

For those with primary hyperparathyroidism, are the symptoms of a parathyroid tumor different from hyperplasia?

Primary hyperparathyroidism can be caused by a benign tumor, multiple benign tumors, or hyperplasia (all four parathyroid glands diseased). The symptoms are all the same. With an adenoma, or tumor, there is one diseased parathyroid and the other three glands are all normal. Sometimes you can have multiple adenomas, with two or even three benign tumors and one normal gland. In hyperplasia, all f...

Hyperplasia Symptoms FAQ

I recently had a very painful kidney stone and want to prevent that from ever happening again. I read that primary hyperparathyroidism can cause kidney stones. How can I figure out if that is what is going on?

If you've had a kidney stone, I definitely understand the desire to avoid another one! Primary hyperparathyroidism can cause kidney stones, and it is appropriate to evaluate for this in anyone who has had a stone. The first thing to do is check your blood calcium levels. If you have a high calcium level, then this could be the cause of your kidney stones. You would then want to check calcium an...

Symptoms Kidney stones Diagnosis

What are the most common symptoms of primary hyperparathyroidism?

Primary hyperparathyroidism can affect multiple organ systems and produce many different symptoms. The most common symptoms of parathyroid disease are **fatigue and a general sense of not being well.** Most patients will report some fatigue, which can range from mild tiredness to severe fatigue that makes it difficult to work or perform normal daily activities. This, along with other symptoms, ...

Symptoms Popular Primary HPT FAQ

I've had high calcium levels for the last four years. Over the last six months I have started having more frequent headaches and body aches. Sometimes I feel really tired even when getting lots of sleep. I think these symptoms may be due to parathyroid disease, but on other days I feel just fine, so I think they may be caused by something else. Can symptoms of parathyroid disease come and go like this?

Yes, it is common for the symptoms of parathyroid disease to come and go. Patients will report that on some days they are too tired to get out of bed, but other days feel great. Often, the symptoms of primary hyperparathyroidism will gradually increase in frequency and severity. Many people start out not feeling all that bad, but then after a few years with the disease they notice that they are...

Symptoms Primary HPT

Does anyone who has had this illness have issues falling down? Not losing consciousness but just collapsing and falling due to weak legs.

Yes, parathyroid disease can cause you to have more falls. There are primarily two ways it can do this: 1. **Muscle weakness**: Primary hyperparathyroidism causes muscle weakness, especially in the "proximal" muscles, the muscles closer to the center of your body. This includes the muscles involved in helping you stand and walk. Often this is mild - you feel weak but can still do normal ...

Does a high level of calcium cause you to become crazy?

It depends on what you mean by "crazy." Your brain works best when calcium levels are normal. When the calcium is too high, things don't work quite as well. High calcium can cause psychiatric symptoms such as depression and anxiety. And it causes brain fog and memory loss, which can make patients feel like they are going crazy. Sometimes, especially in older patients, high calcium can mimic dem...

I have been feeling very sick. My PTH intact level is 134.4 pg/ml and my calcium is 11 mg/ld. Also I have blurry vision and just feel really sick.

Thanks for writing in. I'm not surprised that you are feeling badly. Your calcium and PTH indicate primary hyperparathyroidism, and most people with this will develop symptoms. The most common symptoms are often non-specific, things like fatigue, insomnia, and brain fog. People also report that they just don't feel like themselves anymore. They feel generally unwell, though it might be hard to ...

Diagnosis Symptoms

Can excess parathyroid hormone cause loss of energy?

Yes! One of the most common symptoms of parathyroid disease is low energy. Excess parathyroid hormone (PTH) usually causes elevated calcium levels. Both the elevated PTH and elevated calcium levels cause problems throughout the body. The most common symptoms are often non-specific: fatigue, low energy, insomnia, aches and pains. These symptoms can be debilitating. Excess PTH can also lead t...

Symptoms primary hyperparathyroidism

My confusion seems to be increasing. Could this be due to my having hyperparathyroidism?

Yes, cognitive symptoms like brain fog or confusion are associated with primary hyperparathyroidism. These symptoms are non-specific, so they can be caused by other diseases as well. But if you know that you have primary hyperparathyroidism, then it is reasonable to assume that your parathyroid disease is at least contributing to or exacerbating the symptom. Even if parathyroid disease is n...

Symptoms Primary HPT

Hi Dr. Boone, I am so grateful to have come across your website, it has brought me clarity and understanding in a subject very foreign to me. My question is, my sisters have MEN1, I have a genetic appointment in May for my testing. They all have hyperparathyroidism and have had surgery. My calcium level is 9.8 and my doctor said she corrected it due to albumin. My albumin was normal at 4.6 and my calcium was 9.8, this brought it to a 9.3. she tested my PTH at 43.7. She didn't test my vitamin D because she said she didn't feel she needed to. I have horrible bone pain too, but she said she didn't know that. She is sending me for a pituitary MRI due to high prolactin and vision problems. Why would she correct my CA if it didn't need to be corrected? Thank you so much!

Hello, I'm glad you've found the information on the website helpful. Firstly, it's important to understand that the "correction" your doctor is referring to is a mathematical adjustment based on your albumin level. Albumin is a protein in the blood that can bind to calcium, and a certain proportion of the calcium in your blood is typically bound to albumin. If your albumin level is abnormal...

Genetics Primary HPT Albumin Symptoms Diagnosis MEN1

I have a calcium of 11.1 mg/dl (age 55, female). We still need to order other labs. I have so many symptoms consistent with hyperparathyroidism. A lot of the reading I’ve done seems to say that they don’t do surgery under 12 as it “should” be asymptomatic. Can an 11 level cause symptoms?

Yes! A calcium of 11.1 mg/dl can definitely cause symptoms! I have had patients whose calcium levels never went above 10.5 mg/dl and they were absolutely miserable. The symptoms of primary hyperparathyroidism are unrelated to how high the calcium is. Any calcium above normal (above 10.0 mg/dl for a person over about age 40) can cause symptoms. Parathyroid disease is only rarely asymptomatic...

Parathyroid Disease Basics Symptoms Primary HPT Diagnosis

I'm a 36 year old woman, and my calcium levels have been trending up for the last 4 years and my health has been in a rapid decline. I now have osteopenia. The fatigue and brain fog is so bad most days I can barely concentrate or function. My recent calcium was 10.5 mg/dl and I haven't had my PTH checked recently but last time it wasn't elevated. I am waiting for new lab orders. Before the increasing calcium the last few years I lived in the low 9s and that is where it seemed to stay (9.2-9.4 mg/dl) and looking at the trend it is now consistently high 9s with the highest being 10.5. I am terrified my health is going to keep declining. Do you do consults for people in my position?

Thank you for sharing your information. Your picture is definitely concerning for [primary hyperparathyroidism](https://https://www.southwestparathyroid.com/disease). A calcium of 10.5 mg/dl is a little high for your age. Sometimes people in their 30s can have calcium levels in the low 10s, which then drop into the 9s as you get above about 40 years old. But 10.5 is a little higher than what I ...

Parathyroid Disease Basics Symptoms Diagnosis Primary HPT